P90X

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I just started the P90X Lean program yesterday and was wondering if anyone had tried it and whether it had worked very well. I've been exercising fairly regularly for about a year and a half - mostly cardio w/some light weights and yoga thrown in.

I think I'll be able to manage the exercise portion ok, but I'm wondering about the dietary advice. Are all those protein drinks and supplement bars really necessary? I eat a healthy diet - mostly fruits, veggies, beans, nuts, eggs, some lean grass fed beef & pork (don't like chicken or turkey much) - and I'm mostly dairy and soy free. I eat rice & gluten-free oat products occasionally, but my go-to carbs are potatoes and corn tortillas. I'd like to lose a little weight on the program but I'm mainly doing it to tone up and increase my strength.

I'd appreciate any advice on the program and especially the diet if you've done it or something similar. Thanks!

I don't know anything specifically about that program (just heard of it for the first time earlier today), but generally, for your average person who works out for fitness and/or to lose a little more weight, the extra bar/smoothie scheme is counter-productive. Adding more processed calories isn't generally helpful nutritionally either as real food is king, queen, and jester.

The reasonings behind them:

1) exercise research does generally show that you recover better if you have a little carb and protein post-exercise. if you do something like run really hard twice a day while training for the olympics, this is really important. if you go to the gym four times a week, not so much.

2) they would like to make more money

3) we the people are vulnerable to magical fixes and easy actions

The alternatives:

1) eat a little (key word: little, like 100-200 calories) real food with protein and carbs afterwards. yogurt and fruit, half a sandwich, carrots and hummus, nuts and dried fruit, a latte and fruit, an unfried spring roll or two... if your next meal is in less than an hour, skip it completely and have some water.

2) eat slightly less at your next meal if you had the snack, especially if you want to lose weight

3) drink plenty of non-caloric fluids (maybe a some added electrolytes aka salt and sugar if you are working out greater than 90 minutes or at very high intensity but again most average exercisers do not need the added stuff).

Okay, that's my diatribe of the day. If you are very hardcore and training for the olympics, I'm sorry if you find the above advice patronizing but it irks me that the whole fitness industry is selling totally unnecessary products that are not really beneficial for many folks' goals. Or health.

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I did P90x. KILLED my back, but I have back problems anyway. I did see results though. With all the lifting and such, I would make myself a protein shake after the workout-but a mix I bought at the store, not the one they're pushing. Depending on what time of day I worked out, I would just add in the calories as part of my breakfast or afternoon snack.

*** be careful and make sure to keep PERFECT form or you will hurt yourself!!

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